I think this is the calm before the Muppet movie storm this fall. As much as I'd like to see the remaining Muppet Show DVDs out right now, we might have to wait until 2012. Disney seems to have a long-term strategy with the Muppets so maybe it's best they refrain from releasing any media until the movie launches. Then next year they'll release the DVD of the new film along with subsequent Muppet Show DVD releases that are advertised on the movie's DVD previews. Just a thought. To me - the sooner the better. I'll take this stuff whenever they decide to put it on the market.
Let's say what I forget who, but someone said earlier in this thread said there might be a rights issue they have to renegotiate.
Now, we can't be sure this is true, but it seems like a possibility. Seeing as how season 4 was announced 2 years ago to come the following year, movie or no movie, that sounds like welshing on a promise. I don't see why season 4 couldn't have been released that year, with season 5 due in time for the movie, and a complete series collection and further releases of other media when the DVD comes out. So it is very likely that music rights renegotiation with Michael Jackson's estate seems to be the actual problem. I'd hate for them to have to release this near the movie without solving that problem and having large gaps in the program like season 1 did.
And as I said, even if they DID want to hold this over 2 more years for the movie, it's not like they have a shortage of Muppet past projects to release. TV specials, rereleases of movies with special features about a movie that's about to come out, with a special movie ticket coupon (If we can get 8 releases of Big Momma's House in a year, we can certainly get the Muppet Movies rereleased with more bonuses). Not to mention the potential for single disk "Best of" Muppet Show compilations, similar to the Time Life/Sony ones.
Again, I think we should close this thread unless we get actual news. This is all circulatory at this point, and asking "Why?" to questions we don't have answers to.